Girl, 3 militants killed during Kashmir firefight

A seven-year-old girl and three militants were killed in a shootout with government forces in Indian-administered Kashmir yesterday, police said.

Soldiers and police surrounded a village in Kupwara district at dawn on the de-facto border that divides the disputed territory with Pakistan, believing armed militants were in the area.

"Three terrorists were killed in the operation. Unfortunately, we also lost a girl during the encounter," police told AFP.

The girl and a young boy were hit by stray bullets more than 100 metres from the firefight, Vaid added. The boy is in a stable condition in hospital, while a police officer was also being treated for injuries.

At least 29 armed militants, mostly locals, have died fighting government forces this year.